As fury mounts among small miners

… Trotman commits to continued engagement

Government will continue to engage local miners, even as the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has threatened mass protests unless a meeting with the President is granted.
This commitment was made by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman during the National Executive Conference (NEC) at Vreed-en-Hoop on Saturday, as he sought to pacify the miners. Trotman was asked for Government’s response to the miners. He cited “miscommunication” as a possible cause for the dissent.
“There have been a number of engagements, both with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Finance, with GRA. And I believe we will continue to engage.”
“Obviously there is some amount of miscommunication. And this is not the imposition of taxes on miners; this issue has to do with the collection of taxes, in terms of Tributors Tax being deducted from wages and salaries, in the same way that public servants have their taxes deducted from their salary.”
According to Trotman, some workers pay their fair share, while others do not, but are benefiting from the State’s facilities. He said this was the Finance Ministry’s way of ensuring compliance with more persons who previously did not pay. Trotman expressed hope that “maturity, good sense and patriotism” would prevail.
Trotman also responded to claims that he did not respect miners. According to the Minister, this was not so, as is evident in his Administration’s support for the gold industry and its solid production figures.
“So we’ll have arguments from the very small miners, who say that the GGDMA, the big miners, are not respecting them. We have large companies say that they deserve more. So what we’re saying is very good production, which means Government is providing the necessary atmosphere and playing field for good production.”
On Friday, the GGDMA had a meeting at its headquarters on North Road, Georgetown. According to reports, the miners agreed that a letter would be published and also posted to President Granger, informing him of their concerns.
Reports indicate that the miners settled on a two-week deadline for a response, failing which they would organise peaceful mass protests.
It is reported that slowing down production as a form of protest was also suggested, though this was mooted in favour of their request for a meeting with President David Granger. Earlier this week, Granger left for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in The Dominican Republic.
According to the new regulations, as announced by Government, certain goods and services will now attract Value Added Tax (VAT). In addition, the Tributors tax will be increased from 10 to 20 per cent, with a two per cent tax on gross earnings.
In addition, miners will now be required to file Income Tax at the end of the year. These terms have been criticised by the GGDMA since they were announced.
During the Budget 2017 debates in the National Assembly, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had warned that these adjustments to the mining industry will bring about uncertainties as miners will be subjected to greater tax.
He had noted that this will not augur well for the gold industry and will create hardships for small miners.